Making an Outrageous Demand
Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of her control, Qian Renxue's rationality finally prevailed once again.
She quickly composed herself, put the "mask" back on, and put on a professional smile.
"I apologize for my rudeness earlier." Qian Renxue regained her composure. She wanted to quickly skip over that part, so she cut to the chase without beating around the bush.
"The reason I invited you here is for a private matter, and I would like to ask 'Lord of the Clouds' for assistance."
Zhou You remained silent, awaiting the next installment.
If Qian Renxue had met him with her true identity this time, she wouldn't have needed to be so "humble." After all, being the Pope's only daughter and the grandson of the Great Enshrined was enough for Zhou You to give her face.
But since the other party doesn't intend to reveal their true identity, one should naturally adopt a proper attitude when asking for a favor. After all, Zhou You has no connection with the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, so why should he give you face?
After that, Qian Renxue didn't cause any more trouble and slowly revealed the purpose of her invitation to Zhou You.
Zhou You suddenly understood after hearing this.
Qian Renxue was entrusted by the Ning family of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to ask "Lord of the Clouds" to help try to solve the problem of their family's Martial Soul.
Five years ago, his Thesis suddenly appeared, giving Ning Fengzhi hope of solving the defects of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. However, scholars are a very scarce resource on this continent, especially those who can fully understand that Thesis.
Because the Ning family was too far from Spirit City and located in a remote area, they were a little slow in their actions. By the time they started recruiting scholars, they found that all the well-known talents had already been snatched up by other Spirit Hall Academies and sects!
Although they quickly began to cultivate a group of their own scholars with their enormous financial resources, it was not enough for them to reach the level of "Lord of the Clouds" in just five years.
This made the Ning family even more eager for the wisdom and talent of "Lord of the Clouds".
Five years ago, they made tentative contact with the Spirit Hall, when Bibi Dong had not yet left Heaven Dou City.
This Pope was an extremely controlling person, but because she was busy with the Soul Hunting, she only learned about "Lord of the Clouds" and her Thesis from outsiders.
One can imagine how furious she was at the time, which is why she rejected the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect without hesitation.
Ning Fengzhi had thought there was no hope left, but unexpectedly, after Bibi Dong left Heaven Dou City, Xue Qinghe came to his door, claiming that he could do his best to help them mediate with the Spirit Hall and make the matter happen.
Originally, the relationship between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall was not very harmonious, but Bibi Dong's visit to Heaven Dou City greatly promoted the relationship between the two sides on a diplomatic level.
In the past, the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire maintained a tacit understanding, joining forces to attack the increasingly powerful Spirit Hall.
However, since the decline of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, this situation has become somewhat ambiguous. Compared to the Xue Family of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, the Evil Eye White Tiger Dai Family, the ruler of the Star Luo Empire, at least on the surface, still seems to be at the height of its power.
It's important to know that Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire, as the only two superpowers on the Douluo Continent, had always been enemies before the rise of the Spirit Hall. Seeing his own side gradually declining while his rival continued to thrive, Xue Ye, though not outwardly expressing it, was still somewhat anxious.
At this time, Xue Qinghe suggested that they could use the power of the Spirit Hall to put pressure on the Star Luo Empire. Of course, this did not mean that they should become allies with the Spirit Hall.
When it comes to diplomacy, one can maintain a strategic cooperative relationship with the Star Luo Empire while secretly cultivating good relations with the Spirit Hall, playing a game of playing both sides.
The Xue Ye tacitly approved.
During this period, thanks to Qian Renxue's efforts, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family has been declining day by day. One by one, the princes who were capable of threatening Xue Qinghe's position have either died or been crippled, or been deposed or exiled.
Seeing the miserable state of his other brothers, the fourth prince, Xue Beng, was so frightened that he immediately pretended to be a spoiled brat, disguising himself as an ignorant and incompetent fool, in order to avoid being targeted by Xue Qinghe.
Xue Ye may not have been entirely unaware of this, but the struggle for the throne has always been brutal. He himself had emerged from the hell of raising Gu poison, so he did not stop Xue Qinghe. On the contrary, he felt that this son truly had the makings of an emperor.
Therefore, Xue Qinghe's status has risen steadily over the years. Finally, after eliminating all her competitors and receiving support from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she was appointed Crown Prince by Xue Ye, and her Nation-Stealing Plan was halfway complete.
This is why Qian Renxue dared to openly invite Zhou You and others into her residence; within Heaven Dou City, her power was enough to conceal many secrets.
Moreover, she was the main driving force behind the secret alliance between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall. Theoretically, her interactions with the Spirit Hall were within the bounds of reason, and even if she were discovered, no one could criticize her.
The reason she was willing to help Ning Fengzhi was naturally because she had her eye on the power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had always been on good terms with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. In order to inherit the throne without any controversy, "Xue Qinghe" would naturally try to bring the Ning family onto the chariot.
"Lord of the Clouds" was the best bargaining chip to win over the Ning family, but Qian Renxue ultimately underestimated Zhou You.
She was unaware that Zhou You already knew her true identity. At this moment, the latter quickly grasped her intentions.
Since that's the case, it's simple. Zhou You doesn't mind being used, but his principle is that if he's used, he must share the benefits with the other party, so he waits for them to set their terms.
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Qian Renxue understood his thoughts. She felt both annoyed and amused. She suspected that even if he knew her true identity, he wouldn't change his mind.
This person is very self-centered; well, to put it nicely, they "insist on their own opinions."
So she said, "As for the payment, everything is negotiable; it mainly depends on what you need."
Wow, that's quite a boast. You think you can have anything I want?
Zhou You glanced at her and asked, "What if I wanted the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?"
Xue Qinghe's eyes widened for the first time, and he immediately blurted out, "How did you know..."
The [Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud] is a divine artifact passed down through the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. In the original novel, Tang San was given this item by Xue Ye for his meritorious service in protecting the country.
Despite being called a divine artifact, it is actually a rather unusual Soul Tool. This thing requires a master to use, and now it can only be used as a symbolic ritual object within the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, having lost its practical function.
Zhou You said it casually, wanting to see if he could get his hands on it. If he remembered correctly, in the original story, this item was actually part of the Sea God Trial.
He was still somewhat curious about the "gods" of this world.
Xue Qinghe frowned slightly and said solemnly, "Although I don't know where you learned about this item, I'm sorry, but this is an item inherited by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and is not for trade!"
She spoke with righteous indignation, but in her heart she was already calculating the feasibility of this deal. What a joke! What did the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's divine artifact have to do with her, Qian Renxue?
What she should be thinking about right now is whether she can get a good price for it.